The divine feminine
SHAPE-ENHANCING, SMOOTHING AND IN SILK, SATIN AND SHEER LACE, THE NEW MOOD IN LINGERIE IS AN INTOXICATING MIX OF PRETTY, PRACTICAL AND POWERFULLY SEDUCTIVE
Wear Faune’s romantic cream silk slip with little gold strappy sandals and a pair of glitter earrings for hot summer nights under the stars. When the night is over, simply kick off your shoes and just fall into bed. Luxuriously lazy, don’t you think?
DRESS, £210, Faune. EARRINGS, £80, Karina Constantine
Shapewear has moved on a long way from the Bridget Jones big knicker moment (I know that’s what you were thinking when you read the word shapewear). It’s time to banish the thigh-snapping scuba shorts in plaster pink from your minds and think movie-star black lace bras and high-waisted knickers that look like they’re straight out of Marilyn Monroe’s lingerie drawer.
BLOUSE, £450, Emporio Armani. BRALETTE, £46, Spanx. KNICKERS, £165, Eres
Maison Lejaby’s bodysuit is a pure contradiction. Designed to go unnoticed, it’s seam-free, contouring and almost invisible under clothes, yet so head-turningly beautiful in shell pink satin with a delicate lace trim. It makes putting clothes over it feel like a crime.
BODY, £84, Maison Lejaby. EARRINGS, £395 each, Annoushka. DRESSING GOWN, £418, I.D. Sarrieri at The Outnet
Try not to think of control pants as something you begrudingly buy to wear once under an amazing party dress. A great pair of well-cut, body-contouring black knickers are so flattering and comfortable that they should be a mainstay in your life, and will make you feel just as amazing in your jeans as they do under a figure-skimming slip dress.
TOP, £270, Zimmermann at The Outnet. KNICKERS, £34, Spanx. EARRINGS, £25 each, Nue Hoops
Turn up the luxe value on your loungewear in US label Khaite’s dreamy, cream-ribbed bodysuit, taking home comfort to a whole new level.
BODY, £787, Khaite at Mytheresa
Introducing new sustainable knitwear brand aethel (named after the founder’s grandmother, it means noble and honourable). Its simple cashmere sweaters are not only sensibly priced (for cashmere), they are knitted here in London (Islington to be precise) and are a super-soft sensation against skin.
SWEATER, £160, Aethel. BODY, £64, Wacoal. EARRINGS, £25 each, Nue Hoops
Listen up brides-to-be, why not treat yourself to a private fitting at an Agent Provocateur boutique, and indulge in some elegant new lingerie with a naughty twist? I mean, if you can’t wear a sheer white lace leotard with ribbon ties on your wedding night, when can you?
BODY, £198, Agent Provocateur
When Wacoal takes shape and tone technology but reimagines it in a sexy sheer fabric and a delicate shade of powder, the words boring, functional and frumpy fly out the window. The brand has created beautiful everyday underwear that a woman must have in her underwear drawer.
BRA, £40; SHAPEWEAR SHORTS, £46, both Wacoal. CAPE, £895, Halfpenny London. EARRINGS, £25 each, Nue Hoops. RINGS, £80 each, Karina Constantine
If you’re looking for underwear that really delivers (think technical fabrics that lift and flatter but in beautiful, iconic shapes) then look first to a label that specialises in swimwear. Cue Maison Eres. Its blush-pink vintage-style bra and high-waisted shorts set evokes a feeling of romantic nostalgia that makes you feel like Lady Mary the moment you slip them on. These are the pieces you dream about owning, so stop dreaming and start wearing.
BRA, £310, Eres. SKIRT, £950, Halfpenny London. EARRINGS, £25 each, Nue Hoops. RINGS, £80 each, Karina Constantine
STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: Jodie Dunworth. HAIR: Ben Cooke at Frank Agency for Lockonego. MAKE-UP: Karina Constantine using Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom and Chanel Le Lift Lotion. NAILS: Edyta Betka using OPI. MODEL: Ali Tate at Milk. PRODUCTION: Fiona Andrews